Patent GB-794103-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to girdles
IPC: A41C1/16
Filed: 1954-08-16
Abstract: 794,103. Foundation garments. HERBENER, H. M. Aug. 16, 1954 [Oct. 15, 1953; April 30, 1954], No. 23776/54. Class 141. A girdle having a flexible body portion which tends to roll at its top edge has means for restraining such rolling action comprising one or more substantially flat and generally circular resilient frames, each frame including laterally projecting, generally U-shaped connected loops extending throughout substantially its entire periphery, and having sides which bend away from each other when subjected to vertical compression by the rolling action of the said edge, and a pocket for each frame which secures the frame so that it bends in the above-mentioned manner when subjected to vertical compression. The girdle shown in Figs. 1 and 3 has integral back and sides 21 of elastic fabric with horizontal and vertical stretch, a top waist band 23, which is horizontally elastic and provided with stiffening ribs 24, secured to the sides and back by stitching 25. and a front panel 26 which is vertically elastic and secured to the sides 21 by stitching 27. A tapered elastic insert 27<SP>1</SP> of two-way stretch material is provided in the panel 26. A pocket 30 formed on the inside of the panel 26 retains a resilient wire frame 36 made from a single length of wire which is bent into zig-zag shape along its length. The frame is bent inwardly to provide opposed horizontal limbs 43, 45, and lines of stitching 34. 50. 51 serve to locate the frame in position within the pocket 30. The two ends 48 of the wire are joined together at the top. Vertical stiffening ribs 52 are arranged on the inner face of the panel 26, the upper ends of the ribs extending above and in advance of the lower section 39 of the wire frame 36. When the wearer of the girdle bends forward the frame 36 will bend about its horizontal limbs 43, 45. In a further form. the frame is made from a single length of zig-zag folded wire which is merely bent into circular shape, and is confined in a pocket on the inside of the front panel 26 so that it is under compression vertically at all times. In this case, the top ends of the ribs 52 are arranged just below the frame, and form a line about which the whole frame bends when the wearer of the girdle bends forward In the girdle shown in Fig. 14. the elastic body portion 88 has three inner pockets 89, 89a, 90 formed by folding over semicircular projecting portions and by stitching, and in each pocket is a zig-zag folded circular wire frame 95 which is preferably under compression vertically at all times. The non-elastic front panel 97 has a pocket 105 formed on the inner face in which is a wire frame comprising two sections 110, 111. Each section is initially circular and formed of wire bent into zig-zag form along its length, the two ends of each section being joined by a metal &c. coupling 114. Stiffening ribs 109 are retained in pockets on the inside of the panel 97, and their upper ends extend beyond the lower leg of the wire section 111. When the wearer of the girdle stoops forwardly, the wire section 110 turns about its lower leg and also about the top leg of the section 111. An insert 117 of horizontally elastic material arranged below the front panel 97 stretches more easily that the body 88. A stiffener rib 119 is provided at each side of the body portion 88 adjacent to front hose supporters 120. In a modification of the last construction, the front wire frame has its lower limb secured to the upper edge of the central stiffener rib (109).